Eight goal blitz sinks Dockers

When key indicators belied the end result, it was scoreboard stats that told the story in the final quarter of Saturday night’s match. Following two disappointing quarters against bottom-placed Fremantle, St Kilda found its rhythm in the last 30 minutes. And it started late in the third term when Paddy McCartin broke a 40 minute goalless run to ignite a St Kilda revival. Goals to Tim Membrey and Nick Riewoldt within five minutes of the fourth stanza continued the momentum shift and when Docker Matt Taberner hit the post from within 15 metres, the Saints were singing from the same hymn book. St Kilda kicked eight goals to zip in the last quarter to arrest a 19-point deficit in the third term and convert it into a 34-point win; the first time since Round 2, 2014 the Saints have gone back-to-back. Membrey, Riewoldt and Bruce all kicked two apiece in a final quarter ensemble to seal the victory.

Tackling machine Armitage hauls in big number

Following a quiet few weeks by his illustrious standards, David Armitage returned to form against the Dockers in emphatic fashion. The star onballer epitomised the Saints’ stunning pressure throughout the night, laying a phenomenal 17 tackles (two off the AFL record). He also acquired 28 possessions, 14 contested possessions and seven clearances in a real workmanlike performance. On a hardly aesthetically pleasing night, Armitage rolled his sleeves up in the last quarter and blanketed the game’s biggest ball magnet Lachie Neale, who prior to that point had had the biggest influence on the game, collecting possessions at will to set the Dockers up around the ball. Alan Richardson praised Armitage’s role on Neale in his post-mortem, thrilled with the Queenslander’s leadership around the contest on a night where the Saints were comprehensively beaten during the middle terms in that facet of the game.

Back six performance keeps Saints in the game

Despite Fremantle’s dominance in the midfield, led by Neale at the coal face and polished off by Danyle Pearce and Stephen Hill on the outside, St Kilda’s back six stood tall and kept the Saints in the contest during the second and third quarters. Sam Fisher performed a big job on Matthew Pavlich (one goal), Jarryn Geary clamped Hayden Ballantyne (no goals) and Sean Dempster restricted Matt Taberner’s influence (two goals). With Fremantle dominating the second and third quarters in terms of contested ball (+24) clearances (+16) and inside 50s (+9), the Saints defensive efforts were the only reason why the margin didn’t balloon during this period of the game. Brodie Murdoch showed how damaging he can be in his first game of the season, using the ball with precision to go at 92.3 per cent from his 13 touches, whilst Dylan Roberton produced his best performance of the year, accumulating 29 possessions off-half back to go with a whopping 11 rebound 50s.

Membrey keeps goal kicking spree rolling, McCartin mitts sticky again

It wasn’t quite the same sized contribution they made in their maiden appearance together, but the combination of Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey and Paddy McCartin found a way to make an impact against the Dockers. Yes, Nick Riewoldt did move forward in the last quarter to kick a pair of goals to put the game beyond doubt, but Membrey booted another three to take his tally to 14.8 in five games this season. Aside from the West Coast loss in which he went goalless, the tattooed beast has kicked three threes and a haul of five – impressive numbers for someone who had to work his way out of Sandringham early in the year. And whilst Bruce wasn’t as influential as he was a week earlier, McCartin continued to leave observers salivating over his marking. He clunked grabs on the lead at full tilt and juggled them cleverly in pack situations. His goal in time-on in the third term helped generate the momentum St Kilda needed to spark the final quarter revival. McCartin finished with two goals, five marks and three contested grabs in another positive sign of his prodigious talent. 

Sizzling Steven back at it again

Jack Steven continues to acquire leather, without generating the outside plaudits that his form deserves. Not that he would be fussed, whatsoever. The reigning Trevor Barker Award winner was instrumental in the Saints’ hard fought win, collecting a big haul of disposals with 32, to go with 14 contested possessions, nine tackles and six clearances in another eye-catching performance. To put his start to the year into context, the boy from Lorne is averaging two possessions more than his best and fairest winning seasons, and his contested ball has risen by 4.2 from last season, as well as his clearances increasing by 1.9 from 2015. Watch this space. And whilst we’re forensically examining the numbers, Nick Riewoldt has now taken 10 or more marks in seven of the first 10 games this year, and in 22 of his last 33 appearances. Across his career, the Saints skipper has hauled in double figure marks on an incredible 131 occasions – an AFL record.